Combined shoe and instep corset.



G. L. PIERCE.

COMBINED SHOE 'AND. INSTEP CORSET.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEZI, I911.

Patented May 2, 1916.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE L. PIERCE, OF BROOKL N, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR To A. G. sPALDING & 131m, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

COMBINED SHOE AND INSTEP CORSET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 21, 1911. Serial No. 634,498.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. PIERCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State f New York, have invented certain new I and useful Improvements in Combined Shoe and Instep Corsets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a combined shoe and 111- step corset and resides in the special construction, adaptation and combination of parts for this purpose. The shoe may be a walking, running or other shoe.

The particular embodiment shown of the invention is a walking shoe, Figure 1 showing the combination shoe and instep corset in perspective on a reduced scale;'Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in vertical section, portions of the shoe and corset being cut away; Fig. 3 is a section 011 the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; and Fig. it shows a modification. I will now describe the devices of the drawings, reservingit to the claims to point out the novel features and to define the scope of the invention, it being understood that the claims will be given due range of equivalents.

1 is a shoe for ordinary wear and 2 is the instep corset, the latter being a band dapted to be laced together to tightly en- :rcle the instep. The bottom and side portions of the corset are in one piece and consfst of a stiff piece of sole leather 2* to lend support to the arch of. the foot. The bottom portion of this piece 2 is thicker than the sides because it has the main supporting function. On the other hand, the sides taper in thickness toward the top where they are sewed to pieces 2 of pliable leather,

are in efi'ect pliable upward extensions from the sides of the sole or stiff leather piece 2 Lacing holes or eyelets are provided along the edges of these extension pieces 2 to receive the lacings 3, said edges of the extension pieces being strengthened by reinforc ing'strips 4.

The corset is secured in the middle or instep portion of the shoe by a short line of stitching 5 which extends longitudinally in central position through the bottom of the corset and the sole of the shoe as well as through a pad 6 located between said corset and shoe. The pad is relatively thick in the middle (preferably thicker than shown) and suitable for uppers, so that the pieces 2 tapers fore and aft. The bottom piece 2 of the corset is correspondingly shaped to give it an arched formation which in turn supports the arch of the foot.

The pliable extension pieces 2" of the con set are adapted to the eyelet edges 7 of the vamp of the shoe so as to be continuations thereof, and so that the same lacings 3 serve to lace together both the shoe vamp and the corset.' Similarly, the same tongue 8 is made to serve for both the shoe and corset, the lower end of the tongue being secured or anchored as usual in the top of the toe of the shoe.

Fig. 1 shows how the corset is arranged to act in this way as a continuation of thevamp of the shoe.

In operation the tightly laced corset por tion of the combination supports the instep of the foot and its stiff sole leather arch bottom upholds the arch of the foot, making the combination very helpful as a foot gear in athletic exercises, putting special strain on these parts, as well as for the general wear of persons weak in these respects.

Instead of lacing holes there may be substituted lacing-hooks as a plain equivalent and, of course, the claims are intended to cover same.

Fig. 4 shows a modification wherein a piece of rubber or rubber fabric 10 is sewed as a permanent connection between the parts of the corset and acts as a substitute for the lacings 3 to draw the corset together.

In case it is only .desired to have the function of the corset as a support for the arch of the foot, it may be used without the lacing or the aforesaid rubber connection 10.

Having thus described my invention, what I'claim is:

1. An instep corset arranged to be secured in the instep portion of a shoe and consisting of a stiff leather bottom, stiff side portions and pliable upward extensions from said side portions, said extensions having marginal means for engaging a lacing.

I 2. A shoe having a sole, an instep corset in the shoe comprising a stiff bottom and stiff upstanding side portions, means securing the stiff bottom to the sole, leaving the stiff side portions free from the shoe, pliable upward extensions carried by the Patented May 2,1916. I

upstanding side portions, and means for lacing the ends of the extensions together over a foot placed in the shoe.

3. A shoe having a sole, an instep corset in the shoe comprising a stifibottom, that is arched longitudinally of the shoe, a pad interposed between the bottom and conforming to the arch of the former, said padtaperin toward its ends, 'stifi upstandmy free si e portions. extending from the stiif'bott'om and beingfreejof the shoe, pliable upward extensions eiiri'ied by the lipstanding side ortions, and means for lacin? the ends 0 the extensions togetherdier a oot placed in a shoe.

4. A shoe having a low vamp provided with lacin openings,.an instep 'corse'tsecured in t e shoe and having extensions projectin above the same in rear of the portions aving the lacing openings, said extensions also having lacing openings, and a single lacing for fastening the shoe "on a foot and also securing the extensionsof the corset to ether over said foot.

5. A s oe having a low vamp provided with an open front portion and means for capture! thh'patant may be obtai'nfl'tdr sole and same in rear of the front portion, means for-securing the extensions together, and a tongue extending from the shoe beneath the front portion and within the projectin% portions of the corset.

A 'hoe "hitviiig a low mm with an open front portion and marginal lacin an aging mehhs. an instep corset s'ecure in t e bottom of the 'slio'e-an'd having extension-s projecting a'lioie the shoe in rear of the 'front portion, saidexte'nsions having marginal lacing en mging means, a tongue extending within 't e open front portion and throu h the corset, and a single lacing for securing the open 'front portion togezge'r and for securing the extensions toge er.

In 'testii'nony whereof I aflix my signature in resence of two witnesses.

GEQRGE L. PIERCE. Witnesses:

E. W, Sorrimii, Jn, Alum C. MoDormn'LL.

provided 

